A movie that teaches gratitude? New film directed by Michael Landon Jr. opens Friday in Mobile (video)

In "The Ultimate Life," Jason Stevens, played by Logan Bartholomew, digs into his grandfather's past to learn how to cope with his present-day conflict with love interest Alexia Drummond, played by Ali Hillis.

MOBILE, Alabama – “The Ultimate Life” is a squeaky clean PG movie that can jump start a family conversation about gratitude.

Directed by Michael Landon Jr., the film is based loosely on a novel by Jim Stovall and follows “The Ultimate Gift,” which was released in 2007. In the previous movie, Jason Stevens has to pass a series of character tests to prove he is worthy of inheriting a multibillion-dollar estate from his grandfather, a Texas oil tycoon.

In “The Ultimate Life,” Stevens takes up where the earlier movie left off. He is increasingly involved with Alexia Drummond, who lost her daughter in the previous film. But his responsibilities with the family foundation keep pulling him away from her.

The conflict steers Stevens to learn more about his grandfather, Red Stevens, and the choices he made as a young man. The back story makes “The Ultimate Life” both a prequel and sequel to “The Ultimate Gift.” It takes viewers back in time to World War II and to the people who counsel Red on how to live a truly successful life. (Spoiler alert: The grandson learns these lessons, too.)

Fans of the previous film may be dismayed to discover that Jason Stevens is played by a different actor – Logan Bartholomew rather than Drew Fuller.

However, parents need not worry about sexual content or profane
language. In fact, the movie includes snippets of spirituality. In one scene,
for instance, a hobo tells Red, "Every day, rain or shine, I make a list of 10
things I'm thankful to God for."